Ethiopia's lottery regulator has confirmed that the country's sports betting ban remains in force and that no operator holds a valid licence. The Ethiopian Lottery Service warned citizens against depositing money through illegal sites, social media channels and other unlicensed platforms, and said it would pursue violators alongside other government agencies.
The ban took effect in December 2025, when ELS first suspended the licences of 22 operators, then revoked all remaining permits eleven days later. Authorities cited findings from a financial sector review and national security risks linked to illegal money transfers. Before the shutdown, the National Intelligence and Security Service arrested 24 people accused of hiding more than 100 billion Ethiopian birr ($620.5 million) in tax revenue through cryptocurrency exchanges and informal payment networks. All detainees were released by the end of January 2026, and authorities have not disclosed the status of the charges.
Industry sources estimate the market handled 800 million to 1 billion birr in daily turnover before the closure. That volume has not disappeared: ELS said scammers are exploiting confusion over the ban to attract customers.
One operator, Hulu Sport, challenged its licence suspension in court and won when the Federal High Court found procedural violations. But the regulator filed an appeal and secured a temporary stay, so the company remains shut.
What happens next
At a parliamentary hearing in February 2026, deputy minister of culture and sport Mekiyu Mohammed said a permanent betting ban was 'impossible under current global conditions'. ELS director general Beza Girma said the split of oversight between two agencies had hampered control and policy enforcement. The debate has shifted from whether the market should exist to how it should be regulated. But no timeline or licensing process has been announced.
